Foot-lever-holding mechanism.



E, S. HARDEN.

FOOT LEVER HOLDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR.15. 1915.

PatentedSept. 21, 1915.

l v 3 j H v l n k hi fmmgi Jz'dney Harden 3 6M 2 JW single foot lever is the two speeds of EWIETE ear EMME'IT SIDNEY I-IARDEN, or easily, IOWA.

FOOT-LEVER-HOLDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

Application filed March 15, 1915. Serial No. 14,427.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMMETT SIDNEY HARDEN, citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Casey, Guthrie county, Iowa, have invented a new and use ful Foot-Lever-Holding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism for securely holding the foot levers of automobiles in certain positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism for securing the foot levers of automobiles in certain positions without the continuation of'foot pressure thereon.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a plan illustrating my improvement in position for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, dotted lines indi cating position of the parts in locking engagement. Fig. 3 is a detail, on an enlarged scale, of certain of the locking devices.

In the construction and application of the device as shown the numeral 10 designates a frame member, tomobile, and the'nui'neral '11 designates a foot lever projecting through an inclined foot board 12 in a common manner. The mechanism as shown is especially adapted for use on Ford the vehicle, the forward position being for low speed, the rearmost position for high speed, and an intermediate position for that it is necessary to hold the lever in forward position by continuous foot pressure at all times when'it is desired to employ the It is the purpose and function to providesupplemental means for mechanically holding the lever in for t ward position, thus insuring its remaining I in this position, while permitting the operaward" end of the lower arm of the bell-crank low speed. of this device tor to employ his foot forother purposes It is not designed to such as the dash, of an auautomobiles, in which a employed for controlling ,l'

neutral; it being understood be used exce t I in.

emergencies, as where the operator is compelled to use the low speed for an unusual length of time, as in climbing a hill. The device is also adapted for use on foot levers controlling the brakes of a motor vehicle of any style, to hold the brakes securely in engagement independent of any foot pressure by the operator. v

A collar 18 is mounted on the shank of the foot lever 11, near the upper end thereof, and a bolt 14 passes through the forward upper portion of said collar and provides a fulcrum for a special foot lever 15 of bellcrank form, the upper end portion of which projects through the foot-board 12 adjacent to and at one side of the foot lever 11. A bracket 16'is fixed to the rear face of the frame member 10 and a rod 17 is connected at one end to said bracket, for articulation on a transverse horizontal axis. A base plate 18 is provided and is formed with an upturned flange 18 on its rear margin, which flange is apertured to slide freely on the rod 17. A guide rod 19 is mounted parallel to and at one side of the rod 17 and passes freely through the flange 18. The guide rod 19 is bent at right angles at its rear end and is pivotally connected to the forward lower portion of the collar 13. An apertured upturned ear 20is formed on the forward portion of the base plate 18, and the forward end portionof the guide rod 19 passes through said ear, is threaded and secured by nuts 21 on opposite sides thereof. A clamping plate 22 is mounted ransversely across the forward end portion f the base plate 18, at the rear of the ear 0, and is formed with an aperture through hich the guide rod 19 passes freely, and

,with an aperture adjacent one endsnugly fitted to the rod 17.

end portion of the transverse arm of the guide rod 19, which arm is threaded on its end and provided with looking nuts 21. The forward end portion of the lever 23'is pivotally connected, by a link 25, to the forlever-15, said lower arm being laterally offpivotally I set to bring its forward end into vertical alinement With the said lever 23. A toggle member 26 is pivotally connected at its rear end to and intermediate of the ends of the lever 23, and the forward end of, said toggle member projects into an aperture in the adjacent end of the clamping plate 22, is threaded, nuts 27 bearing against clamping member. The center of the pivotal connection of the toggle member 26 to the lever 23 preferably is below a line connecting the central points of the pivotal connection of said lever tothe guide arm- 19 and the connection of the opposite end er said to ggle member to the clamping plaite t e the rear face of said 22,1to facilitate the toggle action of members 23, 26 in the proper direction.

An expansive coil spring 28' is coiled arohn'd the rod 17 between the flange 18 and the clamping plate 22,- and it is the tendency of said spring to throw said clamping plate into frictional clamping engagemerit w'an said rod by overcoming its normal-parallel relation to said flange 18% In practical use t e parts are assembled as" shown and the bell-crank leve'r'15 normany is maintained in its foremost position, as shown full lines in the drawing, in which position the toggle member 26 and lever 23 are in their extended positions, that nearly inalinement,'.so that said toggle member, throiigh' the nuts 27, exerts a pressure against the rear face of the clamping member 22, This pressure overcomes the pressure of the spring 28 on the clamping plate, 22, and maintains said plate in a position parallel to the flange 18"and exactly at right angles to the rod 17, so that such clamping, ,member may slide freely on said rod 17. Whenv the parts are in these p'osi tioiis there isnothing to interfere With any movement of the pedal lever 11 at the Will of the operator, as the parts move freely and slidingly; With said pedal lever, on the rod 17. When it is desired to secure the pedal lever 11 in either forward onin'terinedia'te position, for ,loW speed or neutral, foot pres safes applied to the upper end of the bell crank lever 15 to the end of raising the for-- vvard end of the lower arm of said lever, and raising the forward end of the lever 23, tllfoiigh the link This has the eifect of moving the toggle members 23, 26 to contracted or inoperative position, thereby re lieving the pressure on the free end of the clamping member 22 and permitting the spring 28 to act on the opposite end thereof. This action of the spring 28 throws the clamping plate to an oblique posit on so that it frietiona-lly engages and clamps upon the rod 17, thtis preventing any movement of the rearivardly on said rod, and hold iiigvthe pedal lever 11, threugh thecollar against rearward movement.

and carries locking and adjusting V Y ver under pressure.

the event the operator, 1n pressing the pod a1 A forward movement of the mechanism on the rod 17 may be obtainedeven When the parts" is against and tends to the pressure of the spring 28, and further. forward movement of the overcome permlts a pedal le- This is of advantage in lever into low speed and simultaneously le pressing the locking 1nechanism,sheuld permit his foot'to slip from the ped-iille'ver' befere he has it in the which case he may continue the movement of said pedal lever even mg engagementxhas been effected. Under no c'ir'c'timst however, can the pedal c lever move" rearwaraiy While the clamping ee a ement is in effect;

The determine the barman lever 15 a preferably is offset traee-verseiy at 15 for enga emen withthe head of the pedal le- "vet- 11 to liirlit rearward movement of said belt-erase iever; V

The rod 17 preferably is fdr'ine'd of mld rolled steel and "he clamping plate of beer steel to prevent wear insure a'ccu:

such par'tsiment-,-forthe reason that .anypressure on V proper position, in 7 thou h the elamorate nsensitive- Clamping engagement at It is to be understood that the device nny be 'ed ea, any vehicle "having tootor'r'tfolle brakes, f'or seen-ring the brake leve'r in braking osition. The necessary modifications for adapting" the device to vehicles of difierent construc'tion may he made vvithotitdepaiting'frern the spiritof my, ink veixtion; Y

A step phi 291s mounted through the rear are or reared 17 to preventdisengagement attire 18 therefrom.

1 Glenn my invention l A deviee er the class described. comprising; 'cdmhination With the foot-lever of an aittoihebile, a member adapted to be seca 'ateand, for mevement with the shank of said feet-lever,- an eperating lever ful- 'rumed said member, a red secured to the ranger the a'iitemebile, threugh ivhieh said rod pressure devices acting to hold said clampplate iii elamping engagementon said tea-and means eonneeted with said operatlever to hold said clamping plate but of a clamping plate passes, yielding lanipiiig' engagement, against the action of J 3 the yielding pir'essiire devices. a

2: A device bf the elass described, comof an automobile,- amember adapted to be seeiired to the steak of said foot-lever, an operating lever fuleru'ined on said member, a rod "pivoted at one end to the automobile frame; damping plate 'slidingly mounted on said rod, yielding pressure devices actm is 1161a and clamping plate in elamping iii cdmbiiiatioh with the foot-lever engagement on said rod, and means connected with said operating lever for holding said clamping plate out of clamping engagement, against the action of the yielding pressure devices.

3. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination with the foot-lever of an automobile, a member adapted to be secured to the shank of said foot-lever, an operating lever of bell-crank form fulcrumed on said member, a rod secured at one end to the automobile frame, a clamping plate slidingly mounted on said rod, yielding pressure devices acting to hold said clamping plate in clamping engagement with said rod, and toggle levers connected with said operating lever for overcoming the action of the yielding pressure devices at times.

4- A device of the class described, comprising, in combination with the foot-lever of an automobile, a rod pivotally secured at one end to the automobile frame, a clamping plate slidingly mounted on and adapted for frictional engagement with said rod, a spring coiled around said rod and tending to hold said clamping plate in clamping engagement therewith, a collar secured to and movable with the shank of the foot-lever, an operating lever fulcrumed on said collar, and toggle levers pivoted on said collar and connected with said operating lever, said toggle levers adapted to exert pressure on said clamping plate to overcome the action of said spring.

5. A device of the class described, com prising, in combination with the foot-lever of an automobile, a member fixed against longitudinal movement, a member secured to and movable with said foot-lever, a clamping member tending to clamping engagement with said fixed member, and pivotally secured to said securing member, whereby movement of said foot-lever in one direction is prevented, and means for throwing said clamping member out of clamping engagement.

6. A device of the class described, in combination with the foot-lever of an automobile, a member fixed to the automobile frame, a securing member fixed to and movable with said foot-lever, a spring-pressed clamping member adapted for engagement with said fixed member and pivotally secured to said securing member, and leveroperated toggle devices for disengaging said clamping member against the action of its spring.

7. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination with the foot-lever of an automobile, a rod pivoted to the automobile frame, a base plate formed with an upturned flange sliding freely on said rod, a clamping plate approximately parallel to said flange and snugly fitted for sliding engagement with said rod, a spring coiled around said rod and impinging said flange and clamping plate, and tending to prevent movement of the latter member on said rod, a collar secured to and movable with the foot-lever, pivotal connections between said collar and an intermediate portion of the clamping plate, an operating lever fulcrumed on said collar, and toggle devices connected with said operating lever and adapted to exert a pressure on said clamping plate opposite to the spring pressure thereon.

8. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination with the foot-lever of an automobile, a rod pivoted at one end to the automobile frame, a base plate formed with an upturned flange sliding freely on said rod, a clamping plate mounted on said base plate parallel to said flange, said clamping plate having one end slidingly mounted on said rod, an expansive spring coiled around said rod between said flange and clamping ing movement of said clamping plate on the rod, a collar secured to and movable with said foot-lever, pivotal connections between said collar and the central portion of said clamping plate, an operating lever of bellcrank form fulcrumed on said collar, toggle devices between said collar and the opposite end of said clamping member and adapted when expanded to overcome the pressure of said spring on said clamping member, and pivotal connections between the operating lever and said toggle devices.

9. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination with the foot-lever of an automobile, a rod pivoted to the automobile for oscillation on a horizontal axis, a base plate formed with an upturned flange sliding freely on said rod, a clamping plate mounted on said base plate parallel to said flange, said clamping plate having one end slidingly mounted on said rod, an expansive coil spring coiled around said rod between said flange and clamping plate, and tending to prevent sliding movement of said clamping plate on the rod, a collar secured to and movable with the foot-lever, an upturned ear on said base plate in front of said clamping plate, a guide rod adjustably secured to said ear and passing freely through said clamping plate and flange, said guide rod being bent at right angles at its rear end and pivoted in said collar, toggle devices pivoted on the rear arm of said guide rod, and adjustably connected at the forward end to the opposite end of said clamping plate, and a lever pivoted to said collar and acting on said toggle devices.

10. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination with the foot-lever plate, and tending to prevent slid of an automobile, a rod pivoted to the automobile frame for oscillation on a transverse horizontal axis, a clamping device slidingly mounted on said rod and adapted to be clamped thereto, a securing device attached to said foot-lever and movable therewith, p votal connections between said collar and the clamping devices, and means for throwing said clamping devices out of clamping engagement With said rod.

Signed by me at Des Moines, Iowa, this tenth day of March, 1915.

EMMETT SIDNEY HARDEN.

WVitnesses:

B. F. DE'NNEY, EARL M. SINCLAIR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. r a 7 

